After releasing P1 million in total assistance, the Department of Labor and Employment has put on track the livelihood of 70 local tour guides in San Gabriel, La Union.

DOLE-RO I OIC-Assistant Regional Director Honorina Baga led the awarding of the livelihood check to Sangguniang Bayan member Divina Daligues-Velasco at the San Gabriel municipal hall on May 21, 2018.

The assistance is for the “Tour Guiding Services and Safety Equipment Rental” of the Siglat Tour Guides Association of San Gabriel which is composed of 70 minimum wage earners, seasonal workers, farmers and tricycle drivers.

The STGASG was formed among the locals trained by the local government unit and the Department of Tourism on July 28, 2017.It was registered with the DOLE-RO I on September 6, 2017 with certificate number ROIOO-2017-09-RWA-157.

With the help of the DOT, the LGU of San Gabriel provided trainings to the tour guides on rescue operations, first aid and basic life support to make risk prevention and management measures a part of the tourism plan.

Through the DOLE assistance, STGASG will be able to purchase safety gears and tools such as life vest, life buoy, utility rope, first aid kits, CPR board, audio equipment system, rescue bag, head lights, head lamps, rescue helmets, diving goggles, global positioning system, handheld radio, whistle, and others.

“There are at least two ways wherein our beneficiaries can benefit from this project – one is by tour guiding services and another is through the rental of safety gear and tools,” DOLE-RO I Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra said.

San Gabriel is becoming popular due to its booming tourism, brought particularly by the famed Tangadan Falls. The local government unit has noted a remarkable increase in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting the site.In 2016, a monthly tourist arrival of 1,400 was recorded.

To help them benefit from this development, the LGU has organized residents into local tour guides to bring tourists to the majestic body of water.There are two ways to the tourist spot – a 30-minute

ride on a motorbike to the trailhead and approximately 10-minute trek to the waterfalls.The longer and more challenging route is through an hour trek along a scenic jungle trail and the Baroro River.

As LGU policy, all tourists are required to register at the municipal hall and to get a guide.A tour package for one to seven persons amounts to P500, while P1,000 will be charged for a group of more than seven persons, as two tour guides will be assigned.

The LGU of San Gabriel envisions to become the soft broom capital of the north, premier highland vegetable producer and adventure tourism paradise of La Union.END/Arly Sta. Ana-Valdez